Enforce ‘no-honking’ in residential areas at night, NGT tells Raj

NEW DELHI: In a landmark order on the menace of noise pollution, including shrill horns in vehicles, the Central Zone of National Green Tribunal (NGT) has directed the Rajasthan government to enforce “no honking” in residential areas between 10 pm and 6am, barring exceptional circumstances. It has also directed the government to confiscate any source of noise pollution beyond permissible limits. The cap on decibel level varies across various areas.
In its recent order, a bench comprising Justice Sheo Kumar Singh and Arun Kumar Verma, an expert member, directed the Rajasthan government to enforce the rules notified by the Central Pollution Control Board, road transport and highways ministry and the earlier orders of the principal bench of NGT.
The Rules notified by the CPCB specifies that “no horn shall be used in silence zones or during night time in residential areas except during a public emergency” and the night time has been defined as 10pm to 6 am. The NGT order is likely to have ramifications across the country considering it has reinforced applicability of the CPCB rules.
The order came in a case filed by Consumer Unity and Trust Society (CUTS), a Jaipur-based NGO, to check on noise pollution caused by vehicles, particularly the use of pressure horns.